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The theme for this year’s Continence Awareness Week is ‘Pelvic Floor Exercise in Pregnancy, Childbirth and Beyond’

The theme targets women who are planning a pregnancy and those who have had children, promoting greater awareness of the associated risk of incontinence, and preventative and treatment strategies.

Don’t Forget Last Year’s Theme – ‘Talk About Incontinence’

Continence issues are common but talking about them isn’t. There is still a stigma associated with incontinence. Many individuals and families feel isolated in dealing with their continence problems, be it bedwetting, constipation, stress incontinence, etc. Many continence issues can be improved, or indeed cured, through appropriate treatment and management. At the very least there are a huge range of products available to improve a person’s quality of life.

Talking about incontinence is a great place to start. Bedwetting Solutions offer free advice over the telephone. The New Zealand Continence Organisation also offer a range of services:

– confidential helpline service

– direct people with bladder and bowel control problems to confidential continence services

– provide information and education to the public, special interest groups, schools and health professionals

Don’t just live with incontinence issues – talk to someone today!

Toilet Training App for Children with Special Needs

Toilet Training App for Children with Special Needs

Victorian Continence Resource Centre has developed a phone app to guide parents of special needs children through toilet training. The app contains a full sequence of toileting images, each with a simple easy to explain instruction. Parents can customise the picture sequences to accommodate their child’s progress and ability, and even record their own instructions. The app also instructs parents on guiding their children through five fundamental toileting steps (such as bottom wiping, pulling pants up and down, hand washing, etc) using techniques such as role play.

Supported by NZ Continence Association, you can find the link for the app on their website at: www.continence.org.nz/toilet-training-app

Lack of funding for overlooked problem - 29th June 2012

Lack of funding for overlooked problem – 29th June 2012

There is currently no government funding for specifically addressing child continence problems in New Zealand. Pediatrician and child continence expert, Dr Bobby Tsang believes that funding aimed at addressing child continence is urgently needed.

“The burden of child incontinence is under recognised. Ministry of Health funded specialist continence nurse services are available for adults but not children,” he says. Dr Tsang would like to see the problem taken seriously as he believes many are unaware of how common continence problems are for New Zealand children.

“It is a problem affecting 1 to 2 children in each class which unless appropriately addressed can have negative consequences which last into adulthood. “Surveys find school children consider wetting their pants in class as one of the worst things that could happen to them after losing a parent or going blind!” he says.

Dr Tsang is not alone in his call for funding in this sector. Child continence nurse, Jacqueline Brown would like to see funds allocated and further research into the area. “The scale of children’s continence issues in New Zealand is unknown as there have been no New Zealand studies to look at the incidence in our population. “Anecdotally however, the evidence suggests that there are a large number of children with wetting and soiling problems,” she says.

Both Dr Tsang and Jacqueline agree that early detection and treatment is important when dealing with a child suffering with incontinence problems.

“The importance of addressing children’s continence issues early is vital to prevent physical and social problems as an adult. “Incontinence affects a child’s education and social development and can also impact negatively on the entire family,” Jacqueline says. The link between incontinence and child abuse is of concern to Dr Tsang and Jacqueline. “There have been numerous high profile cases of child abuse in the last decade that were triggered by children’s faecal incontinence or bedwetting,” Jacqueline says.

Press Release written by New Zealand Continence Association

NZ Best Practice Evidence Based Guideline on Nocturnal Enuresis (2005)

Key Summary Messages
Nocturnal Enuresis is a common condition with a spontaneous cure rate of about 15% per annum. It is a heterogeneous disorder that requires careful evaluation. There may be a significant impact on child and family and they may not be aware that there is effective treatment. It is usually possible to help the child achieve dryness even if previous attempts have failed.

The child and the parents/caregivers need simple practical advice and a management plan adapted to their needs and circumstances including coping strategies for embarrassment, stress, anxiety, and guilt in the child and the parents.